Abstract: A staged application may be transitioned, or hot swapped, to live application, that is, the staged version of an application is transited to the live version of an application. The staged version may nm in estimation mode alongside the live version. Only one version of an application may be active in a given run time workspace. The staged version may be initialized with one or more parameters or variables. The staged version may be tested or simulations may be performed to ensure the staged version is ready to be transitioned to a live version. The staged version may execute at a lower priority to ensure that the efficiency and operations of the live version are not disturbed. Once the staged version has been transitioned, the replaced live version or another version may be transitioned to the staged version. The transitioned staged version and the replaced live version may be archived.

Abstract: It is advantageous to switch an active element with a background element. By using a switching mechanism, a background element can be made active while the application remains active. That is, the application does not need to be taken offline to switch the active element with a previously loaded background element. Single input/single output (SISO) relationships are defined for background elements and an active element which provides one or many functions and an active element which provides one or many functions between one input variable and one output variable. The switching mechanism acts on a given SISO relationship to determine the background element to use to replace the active element.

Abstract: A staged application may be transitioned, or hot swapped, to live application, that is, the staged version of an application is transited to the live version of an application. The staged version may nm in estimation mode along-side the live version. Only one version of an application may be active in a given run time workspace. The staged version may be initialized with one or more parameters or variables. The staged version may be tested or simulations may be performed to ensure the staged version is ready to be transitioned to a live version. The staged version may execute at a lower priority to ensure that the efficiency and operations of the live version are not disturbed. Once the staged version has been transitioned, the replaced live version or another version may be transitioned to the staged version. The transitioned staged version and the replaced live version may be archived.

Abstract: It is advantageous to switch an active element with a background element. By using a switching mechanism, a background element can be made active while the application remains active. That is, the application does not need to be taken offline to switch the active element with a previously loaded background element. Single input/single output (SISO) relationships are defined for background elements and an active element which provides one or many functions and an active element which provides one or many functions between one input variable and one output variable. The switching mechanism acts on a given SISO relationship to determine the background element to use to replace the active element.

Abstract: A system and method for coordinating advanced process control and real-time optimization of a manufacturing process are provided. The system and method receive process data and economic data corresponding to the manufacturing process to be controlled and optimized. Based on the process data, the economic data and a nonlinear steady-state model of the process, an economic objective function is calculated by a real-time optimization module. A reduced-order non-linear approximation of the economic objective function is thereafter calculated by the real-time optimization module and transmitted to an advanced process control module. The advanced process control module utilizes the reduced-order non-linear approximation of the economic objective function to control the manufacturing process towards the constrained economic optimum.

Abstract: A system and method of creating and using a graphical task scheduler. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) allows a user to graphically build a real time flow task scheduler by providing a “click & drag” functional palette which contains graphical flow chart elements. By creating this graphical flow chart, the user is able to associate a plant layout, or any subpart of the entire plant, to its associated mathematical model. With a graphical flow chart, the user can define one or more exit branches for each task. For tasks with more than one exit branch, the user can specify the conditions causing the sequence to use each branch. Once the flow chart is set up, it can be used as a sequence editor or scheduler. The sequence editor defines the sequence of tasks that will be performed by an on-line application, such as optimization, and also allows scheduling of the on-line application at specific times or periodic intervals. The scheduler controls the running of each sequence based on the scheduling information.

Abstract: A system and method of creating and using a graphical task scheduler. A Graphical User Interface (GUI) allows a user to graphically build a real time flow task scheduler by providing a “click & drag” functional palette which contains graphical flow chart elements. By creating this graphical flow chart, the user is able to associate a plant layout, or any subpart of the entire plant, to its associated mathematical model. With a graphical flow chart, the user can define one or more exit branches for each task. For tasks with more than one exit branch, the user can specify the conditions causing the sequence to use each branch. Once the flow chart is set up, it can be used as a sequence editor or scheduler. The sequence editor defines the sequence of tasks that will be performed by an on-line application, such as optimization, and also allows scheduling of the on-line application at specific times or periodic intervals.